Chapter 840

As soon as he returned to the command post, akhromeyev came up to me and reported, "Comrade division commander, the order has been sent to the troops, and the troops of the first, third and fourth regiments are assembling. In order to avoid causing chaos, the regiments will withdraw from the city one after another, in the order of one regiment, four regiments and three regiments. "

"Comrade chief of staff, you have done a good job!" I am very satisfied to see that akhromeyev and they have arranged all the steps for the troops to withdraw when I am not in the command position. Seeing kirilov and bandeliev sitting at the table talking in a low voice, they hurried over to greet them.

As soon as I sat down, I informed them that an excellent artillery commander and an artillery company were coming from rokosovsky's hands. After hearing this, Bantai leiev immediately said with a smile: "Comrade teacher, this is really wonderful. In the following street battles, we need artillery in many places, but major Morozov's artillery battalion was almost disabled, which can provide enough artillery support for our offensive troops. Now with such an Artillery Force, I think they can be of great use in the next battle. "

It is said that I am going to have another artillery company. Unlike kirilov and akhromeyev, kirilov is more comprehensive. He asked me cautiously, "Comrade oshanina, according to what you just said, this artillery commander named kurishenko, you dug him up from commander Batov?" Seeing that I nodded in affirmation, he went on to say, "although commander rokosovsky went out to work for you, would it offend general Batov to do so?"

Bantailiev and akhromeyev, who were excited by the new army, became more serious when they heard kirilov's words. They turned their eyes to me and wanted to hear how I explained this matter.

I didn't know that I had done something to offend others. However, when I thought that the arrival of kurishenko could make our division reduce a lot of casualties in the lane war, I felt that it was worthwhile to do so. So after a moment's deliberation, I said to kirilov word by word, "Comrade political commissar, I know that this will offend general Batov. However, I was also forced to do so. We should know that our division is going to enter the city to fight with the German army in the street. If there is not enough artillery support, we will pay a heavy price in the battle. For the sake of victory, for the sake of the officers and men of the independent division, even if I know that I want to offend others, I can only do it with a stiff head. "

Kirilov, after listening to what I said from the bottom of his heart, stood up, put out his hands, held my hands, and shook them vigorously. After a long time, he spoke out a few words: "Comrade oshanina, I have wronged you!"

According to the prior arrangement, kirilov, I, the first regiment and the security company first made an offer to gorodyser. After we set out, bantailiev and akhromeyev led four regiments and three regiments to follow up.

Kirilov and I left the ruins of the city in our jeep and went outside. At the edge of the road leading to gorodyse, trucks with guns lined up.

I saw captain kurishenko and several commanders standing by a jeep from a long distance. After seeing our jeep appear, he immediately trotted over with the commander. I asked the driver to stop the car, then pushed the door open and went down the jeep with kirilov.

Kurishenko, they came to us, stopped, and then raised their hands to salute kirilov and me. Then he loudly reported to me, "Comrade division commander, the second artillery battalion of the independent division is ready to fight at any time."

After the completion of kurishenko's report, I pointed to kirilov next to him and said, "Comrade captain, I'd like to introduce you to kirilov, the political commissar of the independent division, who is from the Central Committee."

On hearing my introduction to kirilov, kurishenko and his subordinates quickly and neatly saluted and politely called out: "good commissar!"

Next, kurishenko introduced his subordinates. The commander with the rank of lieutenant was his deputy company commander, and the commander with the rank of second lieutenant was his company commanders.

"Are you ready, comrade captain?" When I got off the bus, kurishenko once reported to me that the troops were ready and ready to leave at any time, but I asked habitually.

To my unnecessary question, kurishenko patiently replied, "yes, sir, everything is ready. I've checked with the platoon leaders and all the people are ready to fight. "

"Now that you're ready, let's go." After I said this, I asked Kuleshov, "Comrade captain, who should lead the way? You or me? "

"Let my deputy company commander lead the way. He is familiar with the terrain." Kurishenko replied briefly.

"Comrade captain," kirilov seemed to like the new captain very much, and said friendly, "let your deputy company commander lead the way, and you will take the same car with us."

Kurishenko was very calm when a commander who was much higher than himself invited him to go with the car. He first explained a lot of precautions to his subordinates. After they were sent away, he turned and walked to the jeep, opened the door and asked us to get on.

Kirilov and I were in the back, while captain kurishenko was in the front co pilot's seat. Looking at the trucks stopping at the roadside starting in turn and heading for the lurking, I curiously counted the number of trucks. Unexpectedly, I found something wrong. In my impression, kurishenko's artillery company had only nine guns, but I found 12 trucks with guns.

When our jeep started, I asked curiously to kurishenko in front of us, "Comrade captain, I remember that your artillery company has only nine guns, but now it has become twelve. What's the matter?"

When kurishenko heard my question, he quickly turned to look at me and replied, "Comrade division commander, this is true. When I was assembling my troops, I met my former division commander, Colonel horikov. He said that on the order of general Batov, commander of the group army, he specially added three guns to me in order to strengthen the combat effectiveness of our department."

After hearing this, kirilov said to me with a smile: "Comrade oshanina, I was just worried that you would offend general Batov by asking captain kurishenko to come to our division. Now it seems that I am worried too much." With these words, he turned to kurishenko in the front row and asked, "Comrade captain, how old are you this year?"

"Comrade commissar," kurishenko replied politely, "I was born in 1922, and I'm just 20 years old this year..."

When I heard the mistakes in kurishenko's grammar, I couldn't help laughing. Kurishenko, who was reporting to the commissar, immediately stopped and just looked at me in surprise. Seeing kirilov also cast a puzzled look at me, I quickly corrected kurishenko: "Comrade captain, you should say that you were born in 1922, not 1922."

Kirilov burst into laughter, and even the driver chuckled twice. Although kurishenko was red with laughter, he went on to say: "I joined the army in the month of my birthday in September 1940. After a period of artillery officer training, I was assigned to serve in the 979th artillery regiment of the 173 infantry division of the Kiev special military region in June of 41 with the rank of lieutenant." He gave kirilov a brief account of his experience.

After kurishenko introduced his resume, kirilov went on to ask, "Comrade captain, do you have any idea that we want you from the Don front army?"

On hearing kirilov's question, kurishenko was silent for a moment, as if thinking about how he should answer the question. He spoke very slowly, as if constantly considering the appropriate words: "Comrade political commissar, I think so... Anyway, it's all for the sake of defending the motherland, so it's the same to fight the Communist aggressors in the front army of Don river or Stalingrad. Are you right? "

Kirilov nodded with satisfaction to kurishenko's reply and said with approval, "Comrade captain, you are right to think so. I've been worried about your coming from the 173 division. What do you think At this point, he timely changed the topic, "if you have any request for us, just put forward it. As long as we can do it, we will try our best to achieve your wish."

Kurishenko frowned and thought about it, then began to say, "Comrade division, it's like this. There are only 120 people in my company. Now our superior has given us three more guns. In this way, our manpower is a little nervous. I wonder if the division can give us some more artillery? " Kirilov did not speak, but turned to look at me, waiting for me to make a decision.

When I heard that kurishenko only made such a simple request, I immediately replied, "no problem, I will supply you with the necessary staff as soon as possible." In order to reassure him, I further explained to him, "last month, we rescued a group of captured officers and men. From these men, we selected nearly 200 artillery men and added them to the division's artillery battalion. Because there are not many kinds of artillery in the division, these artillery are mostly used as infantry. When we get back to Stalingrad, I'll ask major Morozov to transfer the surplus Gunners of the battalion to your battalion. "

"Thank you, sir." Although kurishenko tried his best to keep calm, his face was still full of joy.

We were talking when the car slowed down. I raised my hand and patted the driver on the shoulder and asked him strangely, "Comrade driver, why is the speed slowing down?"

The driver quickly glanced at me behind him and replied, "there's a tricycle coming towards us. It looks like Captain Yushchenko, the commander of the special guard company, is sitting on it."

I tilted my head through the windshield in front of me and saw a motorcycle coming. All three people on the motorcycle were wearing special bullet proof clothes. I guessed that Yushchenko had something to report to me. He immediately told the driver, "Comrade driver, stop by the side of the road."

As soon as our car stopped on the side of the road, the motorcycle came to our car and stopped. Then captain Yushchenko, who was sitting in the sidecar, jumped out of the car and quickly came to my window. After raising his hand and saluting, he reported, "Comrade division, we have carefully investigated the way from here to mamayev post, and we have not found any enemy."

Last time I was attacked on the road, it was a lesson for me. So today, before we set out, kirilov sent captain Yushchenko's special guard company out and asked them to play a temporary role as scouts to check whether the road leading to mamayev post was safe. I don't want to be attacked by the German army again during the March“ Thank you, comrade captain After thanking Yushchenko politely, I told him, "you should go to gorodysea immediately, and tell the second commander, Lieutenant Colonel Oleg, to keep him on guard in the city until the friendly troops come to change their guard." As our jeep drove on, kirilov asked kurishenko, "Comrade captain, your artillery battalion will be used in street fighting in Stalingrad. What do you think of this?" When kirilov asked him what he was good at, kurishenko talked about his opinion without hesitation: "because for a long time, my artillery company has been fighting a defensive war, now it is suddenly changed into an offensive war, and it is a tough battle in the city, so the commanders and fighters need to have a process of adaptation."“ Comrade captain, how many days will it take to adapt Kirilov asked gravely. Kurishenko thought for a moment and replied, "it will take at least three days."“ No, comrade captain, I will not. " When I heard the conversation between them, I couldn't help interrupting and saying, "I'll give you one night at most, and you'll have to fight in the daytime tomorrow at the latest. Moreover, street fighting is very different from your previous fighting methods. Because there are many buildings in the city, the artillery's vision will be affected, so you can't establish a fixed artillery position. In order to better support the infantry's attack, I ask you to spread out the artillery, take two or three guns as a group, follow the infantry forward, and once you find the fortifications or firepower points of the enemy, destroy them cleanly. " Kurishenko was stunned by what I said. When I finished, he murmured, "Comrade division, this kind of fighting method you said is not in line with the artillery related regulations..." "let the regulations go to hell," I said impatiently, "in order to win, of course, you can fight as you like; Don't stick to rigid rules. Do you understand? "“ I see, sir. " Kurishenko replied helplessly.